Summer Reflections: A Season of Growth and Community
- Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery
- Aug 25
- 7 min read
August 26th, 2025
Well, hello again! I'll admit it—I took an unplanned blogging hiatus this summer, and honestly, it flew by so quickly I'm not sure where the time went. Between hosting events, farmers' markets, and soaking in all the wonderful moments you've shared with us at the farm, summer felt like one beautiful, busy blur.
Thank you to everyone who made this summer unforgettable. Whether you joined us for a Farm to Table dinner, discovered us for the first time at a farmers market, brought your family for goat hikes, or simply stopped by Caprae for a meal, you've been part of what made this season so special. Some faces were familiar friends, others were newcomers we're thrilled to have met—all of you contributed to the vibrant community that makes Prairie Fruits Farm what it is.
Expanding Our Reach
Speaking of community, we've been overwhelmed by the warm welcome we've received in Springfield! What started as Saturday mornings at the Old Capitol Farmers Market has grown into something even more exciting. The response has been so positive that we've added Wednesday markets too, partnering with our friends at Central Illinois Bakehouse to better serve the Springfield area. There's more news brewing for Springfield—stay tuned for some announcements we're pretty excited about!
Award-Winning Recognition
This summer brought another round of recognition for our incredible creamery team. Lisa Little, our Creamery Manager, and Kato Lindholm, our Head Cheese Maker, represented us at the American Cheese Society conference in Sacramento this July. They came home with some beautiful hardware: our Spiced Cranberry Chèvre earned Silver and our Moonglo took home Bronze. More importantly, they returned with fresh knowledge and ideas to make our cheese even better. These awards reflect not just their skill but the daily
dedication they bring to their craft.
Harvest Season in Full Swing
While our creamery team was earning accolades, our Farmer Ian Asklund has been busy orchestrating a completely different kind of success story. We're in full harvest mode right now, and the abundance is almost overwhelming in the best possible way! Peppers and tomatoes are coming in faster than we can pick them, and our recently harvested and cured garlic is already finding its way into the creamery to be slowly roasted and added to chevre.
The herb garden has become a treasure trove of flavors—chocolate mint, chives, rose geranium, and basil are being harvested regularly and transformed into inspired culinary creations. Soon we'll be picking from our apple and pear trees, and we recently enjoyed a lovely grape harvest that has us dreaming of future possibilities.
Ian has been representing our farm's produce (alongside our cheese, of course) at the LandConnection Champaign-Urbana Farmers Market in downtown Champaign every Tuesday. If you haven't stopped by to see his bountiful displays, you're missing out on some of the freshest, most flavorful produce central Illinois has to offer. You can also find our farm-fresh vegetables and herbs in our farm store for those who prefer to shop right here on the property. And a shout out to Ian and Kelly Lay, who took farm produce and honey to the Bureau County Fair in Princeton, IL (Illinois longest running county fair) last week and won blue ribbons for their hard work!
Genetics and New Adventures
Behind the scenes, our dairy team has been busy with some pretty exciting developments. In June, we invested in a linear appraisal through the American Dairy Goat Association—essentially a comprehensive evaluation of our herd's genetics and conformation. The results exceeded our expectations: 70 animals scored between 78-92 points, with our doe WendySue earning an outstanding 92 (that's in the "Excellent" range!). This data helps us make smarter breeding decisions for healthier, more productive goats in the future.
But here's where it gets fun—we've also been training two of our wethers to be pack goats. Why, you ask? So you can rent them for a picnic adventure to the back pond! Picture this: a leisurely walk across the farm with your goat companions carrying your specially prepared picnic basket. It's quirky, it's uniquely us, and we think you're going to love it. Keep watching for the official launch details.
Dining and Music Under the Prairie Sky
Our Farm to Table dinner series has been nothing short of magical this summer. Chef Garron Sanchez and the culinary team have outdone themselves, creating memorable evenings that celebrate both our farm's bounty and the talents of local producers. This week marks our final themed dinner of the season—a Low Country Seafood menu that's sure to be spectacular. After that, Wednesdays will return to regular dinner service with our five-course chef's tasting menu as an option.
The music continues, though! The Merry Travelers have become the soundtrack of our summer evenings, and they'll keep playing Wednesday nights through October (5-8 PM). There's something special about live music drifting across the prairie as the sun sets—it's become one of those perfect farm moments we never want to end.
Looking Ahead to Fall
As much as we've loved this summer, we're already excited about what's coming next. Mark your calendars for our Prairie Artist Market on September 21st (9 AM-1 PM), where we'll host local makers and artists for a morning of community celebration. And October 19th? Let's just say we're brewing something special for that weekend—more details coming soon!
Our regular activities continue too. Join us for goat hikes on Tuesday evenings (5:30 PM) or Saturday mornings (9 AM), where our team will guide you on a 45-60 minute trail experience with the herd. It's education, exercise, and pure joy all rolled into one.
New Adventures Await
Here's something completely new: our Farm Educator, Kelly Lay has created a series of custom stamps to launch our very own letterboxing adventure! For those unfamiliar, letterboxing combines treasure hunting with exploring the outdoors—participants follow clues to find hidden boxes containing stamps and logbooks. It's a perfect family activity that adds another layer of discovery to your farm visits. Watch our social media this week for the official launch announcement.
Summer may be winding down, but the energy at Prairie Fruits Farm feels as vibrant as ever. From award-winning cheese to pack goat picnics, from live music to letterboxing adventures, we're constantly finding new ways to share this special place with you. Thank you for being part of our story—whether you've visited once or dozens of times, you've helped make this summer extraordinary.
Here's to the beautiful autumn ahead and all the memories we'll create together.
Christina Asklund
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery
Upcoming Events
Prairie Artist Market
Join us in celebrating our local artists and makers at the farm!
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, September 21st
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, 4410 N Lincoln Ave, Champaign, IL
Admission: FREE
Fall Farm Celebration
Join us in celebrating Fall at the farm! This will be an exciting weekend! More details soon!
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, October 19th
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, 4410 N Lincoln Ave, Champaign, IL
Admission: FREE
Goats & Grooves Music Presents...
Since May, the Merry Travelers have been bringing their groovy, feel-good sound to our farm, and we couldn't love them more! Their lush blend of soul, pop, jazz, and psychedelic rock creates the perfect soundtrack for prairie sunsets.
Join us every Wednesday, under the pavilion from 5-8pm for an evening of incredible music. Holly Monet's soulful vocals and the band's unique musicianship always hit the spot.
Our bar cart will be open with small bites and craft drinks - the perfect way to unwind midweek with great music and farm vibes.
Date: Wednesday's September-October
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, 4410 N Lincoln Ave, Champaign, IL
Admission: FREE
Goat Hikes
Goat Hikes are led by our seasoned volunteers and knowledgeable staff. We'll explore the Eastern portion of our farm along the pasture and pond with plenty of scenic stops for photos. There is also an opportunity for everyone's favorite part of the hike... the running of the goats!
Event Details:
Tuesday's at 5:30pm
Saturday's at 9am
Location: Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, 4410 N Lincoln Ave, Champaign, IL
Admission: Tickets can be purchased HERE
Farm Tours
Weekly farm tours!
Join us every Friday at 3:00 PM for a behind-the-scenes tour of Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery—a working, regenerative dairy farm in the heart of the prairie.
Event Details:
- $10 per person
- 60-minute tour including cheese sampling
-Tours check in at the red barn
Tickets can be purchased here Walk-ups are welcome based on space
Now accepting requests for private group tours throughout 2025-2026:
- $10 per person
- 60-minute tour including cheese sampling
- Groups of 10-25 people (larger groups by special request)
- Special rates for local K-12 schools and UIUC VetMed groups
Fill out our interest form here or email office@prairiefruitsfarm.com
Find Us at a Local Farmers' Market & Grocery
This week, the creamery is swimming in Chevre and Arch Angel is back! Available at the markets this weekend: Chevre, Feta, Pelota wedges, goat milk yogurt, Ukrainian Farmers Cheese Arch Angel, Little Bloom, Fleur de la Prairie, and Black Goat.
Chevre Flavor of the week is Roasted Garlic.
Farm Share is Chevre, 3 pack sourdough Bagels from Central Illinois Bakehouse, and a dozen eggs from Joyful Wren Farm. Sign up for a Farm Share HERE
You can find us at the following Farmer Markets:
Every Tuesday till October
Downtown Champaign Plaza
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The market is every Saturday, May- October.
Grossinger Motors Arena
7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
The market is every Saturday, May- October.
Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana
Saturdays 7:00 AM - 12 PM
The market is every Saturday & Wednesday, May- October.
Downtown Springfield
Wednesdays & Saturdays 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Find Our Cheese at These Retailers
Our award-winning cheeses are available at these fine retailers:
Martinelli's Market (Champaign)
Martinelli's Market (Bloomington)
Pekara Bakery and Bistro (Champaign)
Common Ground Food Coop (Urbana)
Harvest Market (Champaign)
Green Top Grocery (Bloomington)
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market (St Louis and Chicago Locations)
For wholesale inquiries, contact Christina at office@prairiefruitsfarm.com
Prairie Fruits Farm & Caprae Restaurant
Whether celebrating a special occasion or enjoying a casual evening out, Caprae welcomes you with our blend of farm-to-table cuisine and warm hospitality. Our cozy dining room and friendly staff create the perfect atmosphere for any gathering.
Hours & Service
Tuesday-Friday: 4-9 PM Dinner
Saturday: 9 AM-4 PM Brunch
4 PM-9 PM Dinner
Sunday: 9 AM-2 PM Brunch
(Bar open until 4 PM) Farm open till 4 PM
Bar service includes craft drinks, cheese plates, and gelato
Seating Options
Indoor dining room Outdoor patio (weather permitting)
Reservations are appreciated but not required - book through Tock.
Follow us on social media for specials and updates!
*During all open hours, guests can explore our marked trails, visit the goats, and enjoy meals or beverages in our pavilion or on the lawns. Our staff is always happy to chat about our farm, goats, and cheese-making process.
*Please note: No outside food or pets are allowed. All activities are weather-permitting.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, for daily updates and behind-the-scenes looks at farm life during the seasons.
